"Please, Lord Orochimaru. Our whole clan is counting on you." The elder bowed respectfully to Orochimaru, watching him with hopeful eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll restore your clan to its former glory," Orochimaru promised coolly.
Hui stood to one side, sneering inwardly. How foolish. Orochimaru would only bring them destruction.
But they had no choice but to turn to Orochimaru. They didn't want their clan to perish, and Orochimaru was their last hope.
But what did it have to do with her? They'd made their own choice. Clans like this were everywhere...
Hui sat alone atop a mountain, staring blankly at the bustling village in the distance. Orochimaru had gone off to take care of something again, so she sat there, enjoying the breeze. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by a crowd. Hui felt nothing.
When they saw she wasn't reacting, they angrily shouted, "You're the one who followed Orochimaru, aren't you? You promised to help restore our clan! Why are they all dead?!"
The man roared, eyes bulging and mouth wide as he yelled. He looked ready to swallow Hui whole, clearly on the verge of a breakdown. It seemed even his last shred of hope had been taken from him.
Hui chuckled and sensed her surroundings.
"Twenty people. You really won't stop squeezing me dry," Hui sneered inwardly. She didn't believe for a second that Orochimaru hadn't helped stir up trouble when they came after her.
"Where's Orochimaru? If you don't tell us, we'll kill you!" another man shouted, breathing hard with anger as he glared at Hui through gritted teeth.
But when he saw Hui's still-calm expression, his reason was swallowed up completely.
"Then just die!" he yelled, charging at Hui. The others rushed forward without hesitation, all intent on killing her.
"Mom, look how pretty this candy figure is!" A child excitedly showed it to his mother.
"Haha, it really is. How about we go look somewhere else?" his mother said gently.
"Okay!" The child hopped excitedly and ran ahead, his heart full of joy. He was about to turn back and call for his mother to hurry up when, in the next instant, he saw her reaching out to him in terror.
"No!!!" his mother screamed in despair, helplessly watching a flying boulder hurtle toward her child.
Blood filled the scene. The mother dropped to her knees, eyes wide with grief, and wept. "Aah!!"
Elsewhere
"Cough. Damn, they're crazy." Hui wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and grumbled. She hadn't cursed in ages. She couldn't believe these people had Kekkei Genkai, Fire Release that countered her, and freakish strength. They had all kinds of abilities, forcing her to the point where she couldn't use her own.
Hui thought she was going to die. She had fled to the village in a sorry state, thinking they'd hold back for the sake of the other villagers. Instead, they'd slaughtered everyone without exception.
Hui looked at the child in her arms. Seeing the vicious expression of a stranger, he whimpered in fear. Hui grew even more irritated. "Shut up!"
She was always bringing destruction to those around her while following Orochimaru. Now, the one time she'd managed to save someone, she'd nearly paid for it with her life. Her left leg was burning with pain.
The child struggled desperately to get out of Hui's arms. He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, growing even more anxious.
"Waaah!" His piercing wail rang out. Hui's heart lurched. She hurriedly covered his mouth, scooped him up, and leapt far from where she'd been. Fire Release then scorched the spot she'd just left.
Before long, they were surrounded again. Hui realized that the child was only holding her back. If she left him behind, she could run much faster, couldn't she? She didn't notice how terrifying her expression had become, while the child's fear of her grew with every passing moment.
"Ah! Mom, where are you? Boohoo!" He cried even louder. Hui grew more and more agitated. I want to strangle him... He's just a burden... He's going to get me killed...
Seeing her distracted, several people seized the chance to attack. But Hui suddenly grabbed the child by the throat, her face twisted with madness. "You're so noisy. You should just die!"
"Help... Mom, Mom..." The child kept calling for his mother. The people around them froze despite themselves. They were willing to destroy the whole village, but there was something strange about killing a child with their own hands. After all, they'd once belonged to a clan.
"Die!" A figure flashed behind Hui, driving a Kunai straight toward her heart.
Hui dodged easily with a slight sidestep, flinging the child far away. She glanced coldly at him and watched him crash into a distant tree.
Fire Release came hurtling toward her. Her body seemed to anticipate it, and she dodged again. In the next instant, she appeared beside a short man. Her Kunai swept across his neck, blood spraying without a drop touching Hui. He turned his head toward her with difficulty, disbelief on his face, then fell.
The others stared in shock at the fallen man. For some reason, fear began to creep into their hearts. "You've been casting genjutsu on me and disrupting my chakra this whole time. Now I've finally found you! Hahaha!" Hui laughed like a madwoman. "Die, die! Hahaha!"
"Now then, you're next!" Hui darted toward the others. Her movements were fluid and unbroken as she killed everyone in her path. They hurriedly unleashed their jutsu, but not one hit her. They watched in disbelief as the others were killed, then died themselves...
After everyone was dead, Hui silently turned toward the child. He was still conscious, staring blankly as she approached, her body stained with blood. He'd even forgotten to cry.
"Oh, there's still one more here." Hui crouched down, her eyes filled with amusement as she looked at the child.
He stared blankly as the Kunai slowly drew closer to his heart. Just then, Hui clutched her head in pain.
"Get back!" she roared like she was issuing an order, kneeling on the ground and clutching her head as it threatened to split apart. It felt as if a heavy hammer were pounding her skull. A shrill sound echoed in her mind, everything before her began to fragment, and the world started to sway.
"Ah!" she screamed in agony. In the next instant, Orochimaru silently appeared beside her, a mysterious smile on his face. He struck Hui and knocked her unconscious.
"How interesting. What a delightful surprise. You always bring me so much fun, Hui. Hehe." Orochimaru chuckled and picked Hui up. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed the child and paused. "Oh? An interesting specimen."
The boy stared blankly at Orochimaru. No one could tell what was going through his young mind; perhaps he was terrified, or perhaps something else was going on.
A gust of wind swept by, and no one remained.
"Beep..." Through the haze, Hui heard the sound of instruments a few times. Then she lost consciousness again.
Qingsi respectfully addressed Orochimaru. "My lord, everything is ready. Shall we begin?"
Orochimaru looked at Hui, lying on the platform, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "We've prepared for so long. Let's begin. I'd like to see the results of this research, too."
Qingsi opened his mouth as if to say something, then glanced up at Orochimaru. After seeing his snake-like eyes, he lowered his head again. His cool face was once more completely expressionless.
Orochimaru's cool, snake-like gaze shifted to Hui. Just what kind of miracle will Uzumaki Eiyuling create? I really am looking forward to it. That girl's child had better not disappoint me. Hehe...
Before you continue